diff --git a/lib/babel-options-util.js b/lib/babel-options-util.js
index ee26306b..108e3d0e 100644
--- a/lib/babel-options-util.js
+++ b/lib/babel-options-util.js
@@ -91,11 +91,9 @@ function _getDebugMacroPlugins(config, project) {
 
   if (_emberVersionRequiresModulesAPIPolyfill(project)) {
     useModulesVersion = false;
-  } else if (addonOptions.compileModules === false) {
+  } else if (addonOptions.compileModules === false && _emberVersionSupportsEmberGlobal(project)) {
     // we have to use the global form when not compiling modules, because it is often used
     // in the context of an `app.import` where there is no wrapped in an AMD module
-    //
-    // However, you can opt out of this behavior by explicitly specifying `disableDebugTooling`
     useModulesVersion = disableDebugTooling === false;
   } else {
     useModulesVersion = true;
@@ -141,6 +139,16 @@ function _emberVersionRequiresModulesAPIPolyfill(project) {
   return result;
 }
 
+function _emberVersionSupportsEmberGlobal(project) {
+  let checker = new VersionChecker(project).for("ember-source", "npm");
+  if (!checker.exists()) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  let result = checker.lt("4.0.0-alpha.1");
+
+  return result;
+}
+
 function _emberDataVersionRequiresPackagesPolyfill(project) {
   let checker = new VersionChecker(project);
   let dep = checker.for("ember-data");
@@ -165,7 +173,7 @@ function _getEmberModulesAPIPolyfill(config, parent, project) {
 
   if (_emberVersionRequiresModulesAPIPolyfill(project)) {
     useModulesVersion = false;
-  } else if (addonOptions.compileModules === false) {
+  } else if (addonOptions.compileModules === false && _emberVersionSupportsEmberGlobal(project)) {
     // we have to use the global form when not compiling modules, because it is often used
     // in the context of an `app.import` where there is no wrapped in an AMD module
     //